Respiratory Diseases Flashcards
(136 cards)
What is the aetiology of pulmonary hypertension?
Increase in pulmonary vascular resistance or increase in blood flow
- Pulmonary vascular disorders= PE, Primary PH
- Diseases of lung= COPD
- MSK diseases= Kyphoscoliosis, poliomyelitis
- Resp diseases= Obesity, sleep apnoea
- Cardiac= LV failure, mitral stenosis, congenital heart disease
- Other= appetite suppression drugs, lipid storage diseases, sickle cell disease, familial, rheumatic autoimmune disease
What is the clinical presentation of pulmonary hypertension?
- Exertional dysponea, lethargy, fatigue
- Ankle Oedema
- Chest pain
- Syncope
- RV failure= Abdominal pain and oedema due to hepatic congestion
- Loud pulmonary second sound
- Right parasternal heave due to RV hypertrophy
- Features of RH failure= Increased JVP, Hepatomegaly, ascites, pleural effusion
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension
- Hypoxic vasoconstriction, cell proliferation and inflammation resulting in narrower vessels and increase in RV pressure
- Damage to pulmonary endothelium leading to vasoconstrictors release, and increase pulmonary vascular resistance causing RV hypertrophy
- Increased platelet and leukocyte adhesion
What are the differentials of pulmonary hypertension?
Cor pulmonale, cardiomyopathies, primary RV heart failure, congestive heart failure, portal hypertension
How is pulmonary hypertension diagnosed?
- CXR: Enlarged proximal pulmonary arteries which taper distally. Enlarged heart. May reveal cause of PH
- ECG: RV hypertrophy and P pulmonale (Tall and peaked P wave)
- Echo cardiogram: RV dilation and/or hypertrophy. Can reveal cause of PH
- LFTs to detect portal hypertension
- Autoimmune screening
How is pulmonary hypertension treated?
- Treat underlying cause
- Oxygen
- Warfarin= due to intrapulmonary thrombosis
- Diuretics for oedema
- Oral calcium channel blockers= Pulmonary vasodilators
- Oral endothelin receptor receptor antagonists
- Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors
- Heart-lung transplant in young
- Prostanoid (mediators of vasoconstriction) analogues
How is wegener’s granulomatosis diagnosed?
- Bloods: cANCA positive, elevated PR3 antibodies, raised ESR and CRP
- CXR: Nodular masses/ pneumotic infiltrates with cavitation, clear migratory pattern
- CT: Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage
- Urinalysis: Proteinuria+ haematuria= if positive then renal biopsy
How is wegener’s granulomatosis treated?
- Depends on extent of disease
- Severe disease should be treated with corticosteroid e.g. prednisolone, and cyclophosphamide or rituximab
- Azathioprine or methotrexate used as maintenance
What are the clinical features of wegener’s granulomatosis?
- Severe rhinorrhea (nasal cavity congested with mucous), and nasal mucosal ulceration- characteristic saddle nose deformity
- Pleuritic pain
- Haemoptysis
- Renal disease causes rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with crescent formation, proteinuria or haematuria
- May be skin purpura or nodules, peripheral neuropathy, arthritis
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of wegener’s granulomatosis
- Inflammation of blood vessels with granulomas
- Autoantibodies are made to neutrophil proteins, so neutrophils are recruited where there is no infection
- This results in formation of reactive oxygen species and neutrophil degranulation
- This causes microabscesses recruitment of wbc to make granulomas
What is wegener’s granulomatosis?
Multisystem disorder of unknown origin characterised by necrosing granulomatous inflammation and vasculitis of small and medium vessels
What is the epidemiology of Goodpasture’s syndrome?
- Rare in children
- More common in men
What is Goodpasture’s syndrome?
The co-existance of acute glomerulonephritis and pulmonary alveolar haemorrhage and the presence of circulating antibodies directed against an intrinsic antigen to the basement membrane of kidney and lung
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of Goodpasture’s syndrome
Specific autoimmune disease caused by a type II antigen-antibody reaction leading to diffuse pulmonary haemorrhage, glomerulonephritis (and often AKI and CKD)
What are the clinical features of Goodpasture’s syndrome?
- Typically starts with symptoms of upper resp tract infection e.g. sneeze, nasal discharge, nasal congestion, runny nose and fever
- Cough
- Intermittent haemoptysis
- Anaemia- persistent intrapulmonary bleeding, fatigue
- Acute glomerulonephritis
How is Goodpasture’s syndrome diagnosed?
- Presence of anti-basement membrane antibodies in blood
- CXR; Transient patchy shadows/ pulmonary infiltrates due to pulmonary haemorrhage often in lower zones
- Kidney biopsy; crescentic glomerulonephritis
How is Goodpasture’s syndrome treated?
- Some patients may spontaneously improve
- Other proceed onto renal failure
- Treat shock
- Vigorous immunosuppressive treatment= corticoids e.g. prednisolone, plasmapheresis
What is the epidemiology of mesothelioma?
- More common in men
- Most often presents between 40-70yrs
- Exposure to asbestos is well established cause
- Long latent period between exposure and tumour
What are the clinical features of mesothelioma?
- Chest pain
- Dyspnoea
- Weight loss
- Finger clubbing
- Recurrent pleural effusions
- Signs of metastasis= Bone pain/tenderness, hepatomegaly, lymphadenopathy, abdominal pain
How is mesothelioma diagnosed?
- CXR and CT: Unilateral pleural effusion, pleural thickening
- Bloody/straw coloured pleural fluid
- Pleural biopsy
How is mesothelioma treated?
- Surgery for extremely localised mesothelioma
- Generally resistant to surgery, chemo and radiotherapy
- Average 8 months from diagnosis to death
- Refer all mesothelioma deaths to coroner
What is bronchiectasis?
Permanent dilation and thickening of the airways
What are the clinical features of bronchiectasis?
- Usually lower lobes affected
- Variance= Intermittent episodes of expectoration and infection, persistent daily expectoration of purulent sputum
- Chest pain, dyspnoea, haemoptysis
- Signs; coarse crackles and wheeze
Briefly explain the pathophysiology of bronchiectasis
Failure of mucocillary clearance and impaired immune function contribute to continued insult to bronchial wall through the recruitment of inflammatory cells. Airways dilate due to inflammation and scarring, as fibrosis contracts.